First, the leaders of the Russian Duma have decided to send a Parliamentary delegation to the USA to meet with their counterparts in Congress.  The intention here is clearly to lobby for a ‘no’  vote to Obama’s request for a Congressional approval for a US attack on Syria.

Second, the Russian Navy is sending a specialized intelligence ship – called the Priazovie – to the waters off the Syrian coast to boot Russian intelligence capabilities.


This are the type of “hope for the best but prepare for the worst” kind of steps which I expect Russia to continue to be taking for the next week or so.

The Saker